Reviews tagging 'Fire/Fire injury'

Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert

7 reviews

lormurenzi's review against another edition

challenging informative sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

leslie_overbookedsocialworker's review against another edition

emotional informative tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Racism, Mass/school shootings, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Police brutality, and Gun violence

maple_dove's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense slow-paced

4.0

I learned a lot from this book. The Tulsa Race Massacre, how the police and racisn are largely connected (they were used as slave patrol guards and even directly helped racist white people oppress Black people), and more.

If you believe in racial equity/equality, or live in the United States, please read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Slavery and Gore

readalongwithnat's review against another edition

4.0

A really in-depth history of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The audiobook was super engaging and I learned a lot. Also had quite a bit of indigenous history that I did not expect, but enjoyed learning about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Murder

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Mass/school shootings, Torture, and Slavery

dhutton1997's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Great explanation of the evolution of the slave patrols during the 1800s to the police in the 20th century. Colbert did a fantastic job explaining the history of Oklahoma that allowed for the Tulsa Race Massacre to occur. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Child death and Confinement

ktmomma's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

3.75

I am profoundly grateful for the information in this book: the events leading up to the massacre, the successes of Black Americans before the massacre, and the reaction to the massacre. However, the writing and narration were both dry. This read like a textbook (or in my case, like someone reading aloud from a textbook). Sometimes the narrator sounded automated. I would have struggled to finish this book if I had to sit still and read it, but maybe that’s my own problem. I would still recommend it to anyone looking for a broader understanding of US history and/or race relations. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Police brutality

Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Slavery, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, and Hate crime

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Genocide

betweentheshelves's review

informative medium-paced

5.0

 Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! Teen nonfiction isn’t a hugely popular genre, but there have been some real gems that have come out this year. This one included!

I’ll admit, I didn’t know much about the Tulsa Race Massacre until I watched Watchmen on HBO, which starts out putting viewers in the middle of the riot. Not only is this a powerful way to start a show, but it brought to light an event that isn’t ever talked about in American history classes. What I liked about Colbert’s book is that she points out why. After this happened, no one talked about it. Silenced in all the newspapers, just swept away like it never happened. If that isn’t proof that history is rewritten in favor of those in power, I don’t know what is.

It’s clear that Colbert did a lot of research to make this book accurate. However, the text is still engaging, reading a little like a narrative with facts and context sprinkled throughout. Not only does Colbert give us the history to what lead up to this event, but she also ties it into what’s been happening in the United States since then. These connections make history interesting, and teens who interested in historical nonfiction will definitely engage with this book.

Honestly, this is a book that should be used in classrooms and libraries across the country. We need to talk about this history because otherwise we will never move past it. When this book comes out in October, definitely consider adding it to your classroom or school library! 

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Not only does this book cover a period in history that is vastly eliminated from US History classes, it puts a lot of these events into today's context as well. An informative and important read. Full review to come soon!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Violence